Once again I did something I tend to do a lot. Purchase plants or seed for something I’ve never eaten and give it precious space in the garden. I swear I am not going to do it and year after year I just can’t resist trying something new. This wasn’t a real problem in KY as space was not an issue. When trying to garden in a 10’x20′ space however, every square foot is precious. I did it with several items this year. The perennial kale has already died so that isn’t an issue. Currently the broccoli x can’t_remember_what is going strong as is the broccoli-raab. When I saw the seeds in the catalog I thought, great, another broccoli (which we tend to eat a lot of) and ordered a packet of seed. They were the first to bolt while still in the container on the porch. At that point I had to make a decision. If we were going to have this broccoli-raab I would have to buy transplants. Fast forward to now and the eight (yes eight) transplants that went in the ground about five weeks ago are ready to harvest. Oh my, talk about strong. I know I have gene that tastes some veggies as bitter but this stuff is killer raw. It does cook into a still bitter but edible veggie when I add vinegar to mask the bitterness. When the baby broccoli harvest begins the b-raab will be pulled. Add one to the ‘not growing again’ list.
I finally planted the Nigella in the spinach spot today. Also, my first radishes, more overwinterd broccoli, lettuce and spinach were harvested. Thank goodness for a friend who agreed to take some off of my hands. Still learning about the amount each veggie needed. The yields of some things are so much greater here.
May’s Lessons Learned: 1. One can only eat so much spinach and lettuce. For the love of God stagger the lettuce plantings. 2. When trying out a new plant try one or two, not eight. 3. When planting radishes don’t plant them between rows of something that will overshadow them.